EPL: Newcastle Fails to Capitalize on Man Advantage as Aston Villa Holds On
Aston Villa and Newcastle United played out a goalless draw in the Premier League opener, with Ezri Konsa's red card failing to yield a goal for the Magpies.
Aston Villa held Newcastle United to a 0-0 draw in their Premier League opener, despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half. Ezri Konsa's red card in the 66th minute for hauling down Anthony Gordon raised hopes of a Magpies victory, but Unai Emery's side defended resolutely.
Newcastle dominated much of the game, creating several chances, especially in the first half. Anthony Elanga's shot was saved by Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot just two minutes into the game, and Gordon's header from Harvey Barnes' cross flew over the bar. Despite their dominance and numerical advantage, Newcastle couldn't capitalize on their opportunities.
Aston Villa's defensive resolve earned them a valuable point, extending their unbeaten home run in the Premier League to 22 matches. Meanwhile, Newcastle's inability to score without Alexander Isak continues, with the striker's absence being sorely felt.
Newcastle's attacking duo of Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon were in fine form before halftime, combining to fire off seven shots. Gordon's low drive from the edge of the area tested Marco Bizot's reflexes, forcing the goalkeeper into another excellent save. Despite their dominance, Newcastle's failure to score meant the teams were level at the break.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa struggled to cope with Newcastle's pace, completing just 73% of their passes and failing to register a single shot in the first half. The home fans were frustrated by their team's performance, but Villa were fortunate to escape the half without conceding, given Newcastle's sustained pressure and numerous chances.
Aston Villa had a barren first half, failing to register a single shot on goal, a first since March 2022 in the Premier League. However, they quickly found their rhythm after the break, with John McGinn's cross finding Boubacar Kamara, who headed straight at Nick Pope. The match was intense, with both teams creating scoring opportunities, showcasing their evenly matched nature from last season.
The game's complexion changed dramatically when Ezri Konsa hauled down Anthony Gordon, who had been released behind the Villa defense by Anthony Elanga. Konsa's cynical foul earned him a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity, leaving Villa to defend with 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Nothing to separate Aston Villa and Newcastle 🙅 pic.twitter.com/wy3v1ThyR1
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 16, 2025
Unai Emery's side weathered a late surge of pressure from the Magpies, who struggled to capitalize on their chances due to the absence of a clinical finisher up front. This marked only the second time in seven Premier League visits to Villa Park that Newcastle has avoided defeat.
The 0-0 scoreline was a testament to Villa's defensive resilience, although they managed to keep only their third clean sheet in 12 home league games. Alexander Isak's absence was keenly felt by Newcastle, while Ollie Watkins endured a frustrating day, failing to score in his first five Premier League home matches against Villa. The draw ended Newcastle's three-match winning streak on opening day but showed Villa's determination to grind out results.
Key Match Stats:
- Possession: Newcastle dominated with 56% ball possession
- Shots: Newcastle managed 15 attempts with 4 shots on target
- Yellow Cards: Villa received 1 yellow card, while Newcastle had none
- Red Cards: Villa's Ezri Konsa was sent off in the 66th minute
- Expected Goals: Villa's expected goals read 0.13 to 1.47 of Newcastle's.
Head-to-Head Record:
- Total Meetings: 55
- Aston Villa Wins: 13
- Newcastle United Wins: 24
- Draws: 18
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